to live in eternal blessedness, it little imports whe ther their life be long or short, so it be well spent. Pilgrim. Now, my dear and aged father, accept of my very humble thanks for your instruction and salutary counsels, and for your historical narratives, which have given me infinite satisfaction. I will trouble you no longer, and may that God whom you have so faithfully served, receive you into his heavenly felicity, on your removal from this world, which, as yourself said, naturally cannot be far off. Noah. True, my son, and heartily do I long. for it; and no less heartily do I wish you the grace and favour of God. May he grant that what you have heard from me, bring forth good fruit in you. Adieu, dear son, the Lord lift up the light of his countenance on you, and guide the steps of your pilgrimage in peace and godliness, that you may be admitted to the joys of the righteous in his everlasting kingdom. Amen. Chronological Table of the First Period, or Age of the World. We have the first age deciphered to us by the ensuing table, which comprehends the scripture chronology of the antediluvian patriarchs, the time in which they were born, the time wherein they began to have children, how many years they lived afterwards, and their age when they died. The scriptures have exactly marked out all these circumstances; and from thence is taken whatsoever is here set down; from thence it is that we know the deluge happened in the year of the world 1656, being the 600th year of Noah, who was born in the 1056th year of the world. But as to the particular transactions in this period, or age of the world, they have been fully enlarged on in the preceding part of this work. Containing the Space of Four Hundred and Eightyseven Years, from Abraham to the origin of Ashtaroth, &c. Abraham's life-Isaac's character-Jacob and Esau-Jacob sent to Laban-His return-Joseph and his brethren-He is sold to the merchants —Jacob's sorrow · Joseph sold to Potiphar Tempted by his mistress-Put in prison-Interprets the butler's and baker's dreams-Pharaoh's dreams fulfilled-Jacob's family in want of corn-Joseph's brethren bow down to him-Simeon bound-Their second appearance before him-Joseph makes himself known to them-Jacob goes down to Egypt-Egypt distressed by the famine-Oppression of the Israelites-Moses preserved-The prediction of Trismegistus — Israel oppressed by Pharaoh Chencres-Plagues of Egypt-Israel's departurePharaoh overthrown in the Red Sea - Bitter water made sweet at the prayer of Moses-Manna sent—Evil report of the spies --Gold calf made and worshipped-Quails sent-Brazen ser pent-Joshua made Israel's leader-Ashtaroth, Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto: their origin. PILGRIM. OF the first world I obtained some knowledge by the kind communicativeness of the two venerable Patriarchs Adam and Noah: but since my conversation with the latter, two thousand years being elapsed, and such a space must unquestionably have produced many strange and remarkable events; I could wish to meet with a persou of the same sense and dispositions, to give me a true and judicious ac count of these subsequent times: and my curiosity is the greater, as I find myself in the midst of the ruins of a large city, which has more the appearance of having been destroyed by war, than forsaken on account of any other calamity. It is plain, these stately edifices were burned down. The stones in many places are all over smoke, so that it cannot be very long since the disaster happened. What a glorious city this must have been! The circuit and thickness of the walls! That mountain, particularly, seems covered with stately ruins! As for the few houses, run up here and there, they seem to occupy but a very small part of that which lies waste. Oh! Yonder I see coming a man, who, by his age, is fit for my purpose, and his aspect bespeaks him courteous and sensible. Good day, father: Allow me a word or two with you. Cleophas. God save you, son. May I ask who you are? Pilgrim. I am a pilgrim soul, very desirous of knowing the occurrences of ancient times; and as I have been wandering ever since the commencement of this system, it was my good fortune to fall in with Adam, and sometime after with Noah, of whom doubtless you have heard, and they both very kindly gave me an account of every thing within their knowledge. Since then I have not exchanged a word with any one; and finding myself here amidst the ruins of a very splendid city, I was wishing for some such person as yourself to inform me about its catastrophe, and the remarkable things which have come to pass since Noah's time. Cleophas. That is a task rather too hard for such an old worn-out creature as I am, being now in my hundred and twentieth year. Besides the care of the sheep recommended to me, leaves me but little spare time; and a detail of all those things would require not a few days, but months. Pilgrim. This whets my curiosity; but, pray, are you a shepherd? Cleophas. Yes, of men. Pilgrim. If so, please to look on me as one of your sheep, who comes to you to be fed with useful knowledge. Cleophas. If so, I shall make no difficulty to comply with your desires; therefore we will go up yonder hill, called Sion. Pilgrim. Where those old walls stand? Cleophas. The same. Pilgrim. It is very ugly clambering among these confused heaps of stones! Bless me, what beautiful buildings lie here, all ruined and razed! I cannot forbear grieving at the sad end of so much maguificence. Cleophas. If you are so affected with the bare sight of this desolation, how must it be with me, who was an eye-witness of it, and what is still more— Pilgrim. Why, father, it draws tears from you. Cleophas. Oh the causes, the causes! Pilgrim. What mean you? Cleophas. I mean the most just causes of its overthrow. Oh the innocent blood shed within that proud city! and especially the holy, righteous Pilgrim. Father, grief quite overcomes youCleophas. The holy, righteous, and merciful Jesus. Pilgrim. Jesus? Who was he? Cleophas. I find you are very ignorant indeed of what has passed, and have conversed only with Adam and Noah; though had you rightly understood the mystery of their narratives you would not have been so much wanting in true wisdom as you at first appear; for I make no question but they gave you some insight into the way of salvation. Did they not? Pilgrim. Adam mentioned some promises made to him from God, and, by what he said, God seemed to have some particular view in the race of Seth. But, according to Noah, that race, no less than the offspring of Cain, were become so depraved, so profligate, and impious, that God caused the whole world to be overflowed; and, after the restoration of it, the progeny of Noah, whose family had been preserved, |